Fuel cell system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for producing oxygen and hydrogen that uses only simplified electronic functions is shown in FIG.  1  and is described herein. The apparatus includes a container holding a solution such as water and multiple, closely-spaced, flat-plate electrodes arranged sequentially within the container and submerged in the solution. A power supply provides a constant voltage signal to the even numbered electrodes, and the odd numbered electrodes are grounded. The number and size of the electrodes are determined by the size of the engine being regulated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

This invention will produce hydrogen and oxygen to power an automobile,for example, using only simple voltage functions.

2. Related Technology

a. Global warming is caused in part by the hydrocarbons, CO2, etc.;these elements are in part emitted from the internal combustion engineburning fossel fuel. To help reduce global warming, an inexpensive andalternative fuel to power the internal combustion engine, for example,needs to be determined that does not emit these elements when ignited.An apparatus such as described herein provides clean burning hydrogenand oxygen from inexpensive water. A major byproduct produced by burninghydrogen and oxygen would be water.

b. Conventional electrolysis can produce hydrogen and oxygen from water.Two electrodes arranged within the cell apply energy to the water toproduce hydrogen and oxygen. However, the hydrogen and oxygen generatedare produced in an inefficient manner. Here a cheminal catalyst such assodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide must be added. Also, theconventional electrolysis produces this gas slowly and must betransported to a pressurized container for storage before burning.

c. There are other inventions that use concentric cylinders. However,complicated electronics and complicated voltage functions are used toextract hydrogen and oxygen by overcoming the bonds between the hydrogenand oxygen atoms. This is very exacting and detailed in that a precisevoltage function and oscilatory frequency must be determined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS

FIG. 1 gives a visual description of this apparatus containingrectangular, flat-plate electrodes 14 and is segmented into two parts.

The first part shows an enclosed, rectangular container 15 made ofplexiglass ¼ inch thick. The maximum dimensions of this container wouldbe 9 inches wide, 12 inches long and 9 inches high. This enclosedcontainer 15 has gauges and orifices as shown. 1) This cell has a valve10 connected near the base. This valve will automatically release thegas within the container and disconnect the apparatus from the batterywhen the pressure exceeds a predetermined level say 80 p.s.i. 2) Thiscell has a water inlet port 11 which will add water into the containerwhen the water gets below a predetermined level. 3) A pressure gauge 12is attach to the container to measure the pressure of the gas within thecontainer. 4) A gas outlet port 13 is attached to the container to allowthe gas generated to be transported to the reciprocaing engine, forexample.

The second part of FIG. 1 shows a breakaway drawing of the enclosedrectangular electrodes #1, #2, . . . , #n-2, #n-1, #n. As shown thereare “n” electrodes where “n” is odd. The exact number of electrodes andsize will be dictated by the amount of hydrogen and oxygen that needs tobe generated for the reciprocating engine for example. Each electrode 14will be a rectangular sheet of 1/16th of an inch thick. To save weight,the electrodes should be made of aluminum. The even numbered electrodes#2, . . . , #n-1 will be connected to a 12 volt power source. The oddnumbered electrodes #1, . . . ,#n-2, #n will be connected to a ground.

If there are say 10 adjoining electrode pairs of different voltages (12volts and ground), then there will be 10 independent streams of gasbeing released into the container. In this example there would be 11electrodes total.

If a smaller amount of hydrogen and oxygen is required for a givennumber of electrodes, then the 12 volt power supply can be scaled to alower voltage. For example, if the amount of hydrogen and oxygengenerated needs to be reduced by ½, the voltage applied to the evennumbered electrodes should be reduced to around 6 volts.

The voltage to the specific electrodes is not in the form of a squarewave, rectangular wave, triangular wave,or any oscillatory wave form.Complex voltage functions are not required here. The voltage is aconstant and could come directly off a 12 volt battery.

The apparatus does not require a transformer or any other electroniccomponent to amplify the 12 volt signal applied to the electrodes. Also,this apparatus does not require any large voltage (say 200 volts) tooperate correctly. The largest voltage required is 12 volts or less Thisapparatus is very safe and can operate within the voltage levelsexperienced in the car, truck, boat, etc.

This apparatus will not produce any large amounts of heat that must bedealt with. This apparatus will operate at ambient temperature.

The liquid in the container will likely be distilled water or tap water.

Also the water can transport a small current to the grounded electrodes.However, the alternator in the car, truck, boat, etc., will keep thebattery charged to compensate for this small drain in voltage across thegap.

The water molecules M that separate to produce hydrogen and oxygenappear to be resting near the grounded electrode with the hydrogen atomspointed towards the cathode. The voltage of the cathode and thesurrounding water are both the constant voltage being considered, i.e.12 volts. As soon as the cathode gets close to the grounded electrode,say within 1-2 mm, the water molecules M break apart with ease intohydrogen and oxygen atoms and accumulate within the container. Onepossible theory for this separation is as follows. The hydrogen atomsattached to molecule M accept two electrons from the cathode and at thesame time the oxygen atom releases two electrons to the groundedelectrode, and therefore the hydrogen atoms separate from molecules M.

1. With only a small amount of energy, the apparatus will produce alarge flow of hydrogen and oxygen atoms from between electrodes, andtherefore the gas can be consummed as soon as its generated eliminatingthe need to store this gas.
 2. The apparatus in part is comprised of: acontainer for holding water that does not contain a chemical catalysis;apressure relief valve which open if the pressure within the containerexceeds a predetermined value; an outlet port and tubing that transportsthe gas from the container to fuel a device such as a reciprocatingpiston engine, an internal combustion engine, furnace, hydrogen flamejet, etc.; and an inlet port that will supply water into the containerwhen the water level gets below a predetermined level.
 3. The apparatusalso is comprised of: multiple, flat-plate, closely-spaced electrodesarranged within the container, all spaced 1 to 5 mm apart, and submergedwithin the water; a power supply providing a constant voltage (maximum12 volts) to the even numbered electrodes; a ground connected to the oddnumbered electrodes; and electrodes of similar or different materialsuch as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, etc. 4-10. (canceled)